United States › Virginia › Smyth County COUNTY · 2020 ACS
Smyth County Virginia · 29,800 residents · 451 sq mi
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The short version
With 29,800 people, Smyth County is a county in Virginia. 15% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 33% national rate. At a median age of 46.0, this is an older place than the country as a whole. That trails the Virginia median by roughly 46%. Home values have risen by half since 2000, reaching $99,500. The foreign-born share is 2%.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Older
median age 46.0
US median: 38.8
Less educated
15% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01
Population & growth from 40.0 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
29K 30K 31K 32K 33K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Smyth County Age distribution, 2020
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Section 02
Income & economy $41,088
−9%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $30,083 in 2000
US average: $66,278
from $16,105 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
from 15.2% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
from 13.3% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Professional, scientific, technical 3.3%
Transportation & warehousing 2.5%
Public administration 1.7%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 1.5%
Arts, entertainment, food 0.7%
Education & health services 0.4%
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$99,500
+6%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $62,600 in 2000
US average: $265,253
$615
+16%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $353 in 2000
US average: $1,124
from 74.1% in 2000
30.6% rent
from 2.31 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
from 2.4 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 96.4%(31,880)
Hispanic / Latino 0.9%(283)
2020
White, non-Hispanic 93.2%(27,762)
Hispanic / Latino 1.9%(558)
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 19 more ancestry groups with data from 10.6% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
from 67.5% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
from 3.2% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 15.1 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
from 81.8% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
from 7.5% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07
Work & employment from 7.0% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
from 53.3% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
US average: 73.3%
from 27.8% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08
People & community from 1.4% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
from 13.4% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
US average: 91.9%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married 29.9%(3,667)
Women 15+
Never married 22.6%(2,849)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 13.4% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Direct-purchase
US average: 13.7%
VA health care
US average: 2.3%
Any private
US average: 68.1%
Any public
US average: 35.2%
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans Veterans by period of service, 2020
Gulf War (2001 or later) 12.2%(234)
Gulf War (1990s) 19.5%(373)
Share of the 1,912 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
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Drill deeper
Places similar to Smyth County Head to head
Compare Smyth County to nearby counties SMYTH COUNTY VS
Tazewell County
Income $47,313 +15%
Home value $118,300 +19%
Population 38,635 +34%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SMYTH COUNTY VS
Grayson County
Income $47,730 +16%
Home value $150,100 +51%
Population 15,230 −47%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SMYTH COUNTY VS
Washington County
Income $64,552 +57%
Home value $214,000 +115%
Population 53,898 +87%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SMYTH COUNTY VS
Wythe County
Income $57,745 +41%
Home value $171,200 +72%
Population 27,983 −3%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked
How many people live in Smyth County, Virginia? Smyth County, Virginia has about 29,800 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Smyth County, Virginia? The typical household in Smyth County, Virginia earns about $41,088 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Smyth County, Virginia expensive? In Smyth County, Virginia, the median home is worth about $99,500, and the typical rent is about $615 a month.
How educated are people in Smyth County, Virginia? About 14.9% of adults age 25 and over in Smyth County, Virginia hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Smyth County, Virginia? About 18.7% of people in Smyth County, Virginia live below the federal poverty line.
Has Smyth County, Virginia grown since 1990? Yes, Smyth County, Virginia has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 2,570 residents, a change of about -8 percent over that period.
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